It could all become background noise until other side-effects made themselves known. Sometimes, my skin would itch,my scalp would hurt, my bones would ache, and my blood would feel hot. According to Khalida, it was a normal part of my mind and cells adjusting to a power I might wield, providing theichorbonded with my system. I wasn’t sure if that was possible for a human. And, yes, that uncertainty chewed at me.
The candidates were also all enduring the same private internal battle regarding their latent abilities. It was possibly worse for them, since they would havewaymore power inside them than I ever could harbor.
Nobody had yet made any demonstrations of power, but some were sure they soon would—I often heard them boasting about it. Most especially Seneca and Atticus.
“All right, you’re done,” announced Vesper, snapping me out of my thoughts.
My knees almost buckling with relief, I looked at her, seeing that she’d already gone right back to her book.
Stiff and shaky, I pulled on my clothes and left without a goodbye—rude, yes, but I was tired and she wasn’t one for pleasantries anyway.
I rounded the shack, meaning to head straight to the stables so that I could crash. I still slept there. No one complained, not even the stable hands. Nor did they move the pillow or blanket I’d hauled in there at one point. When Talon first saw them, he’d pinned me with a disapproving look.
I’d assured him, “I’m not going to start dragging furniture in here; I’m not under the impression that it’s my bedroom. Being cold and uncomfortable doesn’t make for the best night’s sleep, and I don’t get much of that as it is.”
With a short sigh, he’d shrugged and let it alone.
No matter what ungodly time I was woken, he would come to the tack room to check that I’d put everything to rights. The sight of him each morning always set my body up forthe day. Sad, maybe, but I’d take whatever reprieve from the exhaustion that I could get.
Noticing Khalida and Quillen not too far away, I gave them a weak wave.
Pausing their walk, she called out, “How bad was it?”
“I don’t know how my legs are supporting my weight, I really don’t.” It felt like my kneecaps weredone.
Shooting me a sympathetic smile, she waved me over. “Come on, head to the tavern with us. I’d say you could use a drink.”
I could, but … “I’m tired.”
Quillen snickered. “You’re not used to that yet?”
Actually, Iwasgetting used to being permanently tired. And I wasn’t liking it much.
“Come on,” nagged Khalida. “Give yourself half an hour to chill. Your mind needs that just as much as it needs rest.”
I exhaled heavily, knowing that she was right. Winding down was another kind of rest. And if all I did was exhaust myself and then sleep without finding any methods of stress relief, the strains of Xalbia would get to me faster. “Okay, fine.”
I walked with them to the tavern. Quillen pushed open the door and ushered me and Khalida inside. I’d only taken a single step when the smells of fermented drinks, melted wax, and wood smoke washed over me.
The tavern had a cheery atmosphere. It was where everyone—officiates and candidates—came to relax and justbe. I’d been here quite a few times. Like now, there was always chatter, laughter, gambling, and drinking. Even sometimes singing.
Some sat at the circular tables, sipping from tankards or playing card games. Others were perched on benches at the long tables that were similar to those in the food hall. There were alsopeople stood at the bar or lounging on the stools and barrels there.
Two Laelaps slept near the roaring fire. Another roamed from table to table, its claws clicking on the wooden floor.
Light flickered from the torches, lanterns, table candles, chandeliers, and fireplace. Rays of moonlight also beamed in through the circular windows dotting the building.
Khalida pointed to one of the long tables, where several of her fellow officiates sat, including Soule and Nakoa. “Let’s head over there.”
“I’ll join you in a sec. I have to put my bladder out of its misery first.” I made a beeline for the garderobe, catching the smell of fresh bread coming from the nearby kitchen. I also noticed Atticus, Seneca, and Bevan sitting at a corner table with their usual crowd.
Many groups had formed—some large, some small. Other candidates, like me, had been ‘adopted’ by groups of officiates.
Some candidates had tried their best to infiltrate Talon’s crowd, but it hadn’t worked. Those particular officiates didn’t appear to wish to socialize with candidates, which had very much disappointed my least favorite fellow Phoenixians, who were also somewhat put-out that Khalida had befriended me rather than give them a warm welcome.
When she’d only laughed at their complaint, Atticus had proclaimed that she was beneath them anyway … which had done him no favors with the rest of the Tapestry, because Khalida was well-liked around here.
Inside the garderobe, I did my business and washed my hands in the basin. Done, I headed back out—
